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Methane Explosion on Sewage Boat in Upper Manhattan Kills Veteran Engineer

Preliminary findings point to welding near trapped methane as the likely trigger in an ongoing DEP investigation.

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Overview

  • Chief Marine Diesel Engineer Raymond Feige, 59, died on May 24 after a methane explosion struck his sewage vessel at the North River Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility.
  • The blast occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. as hot work inside a confined area may have ignited accumulated methane gas.
  • Two other Department of Environmental Protection workers were injured and received treatment at local hospitals.
  • The agency reports that plant operations and the surrounding environment suffered no impact from the explosion.
  • Investigators from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and the US Coast Guard continue to examine safety procedures and determine the precise cause.